IN THIS ISSUE
Ghost Signs
How many of us, when visiting towns and cities, never look up at the various buildings with old signs just about existing?
We made our way to Versailles
We went via a couple of Aires; the first one in Toul. The town itself is fortified with ramparts and a moat and easily accessed down a short path and through an underpass (under the old walls). It has an impressive church, the Hotel de Ville is an attractive 18thC (I think) building, there are some interesting building facades and a museum.
The next stop was Mareil sur Ay. The Aire is by the canal which has a fair sized Marina, There are more interesting places to stay.
And then – VERSAILLES. After booking in the campsite at 2pm we headed off on foot – about 2 miles across town. The Avenue de Paris is a wide boulevard flanked with some beautiful buildings, the first sight of the Chateau was impressive.
We arrived about 3.30pm and got through security quite easily, then walked up to what I thought was quite a long queue for the Chateau. However, they dealt with access very quickly and we were soon inside and the queue did give us the opportunity of studying the façade with all its gilding.
Having bought a 2 day passport on line before we left the UK, we returned on Thursday morning to be confronted by very long queues. But while we were waiting to get through security, the lady who had checked our bags the afternoon before came over and asked to see our tickets and sent us around the side of the Chateau to the Chapel entrance and we were straight in.
Thursday was to explore the Mesdames Apartments, the gardens with their parterres, fountains; Apollos fountain is wonderful with the horses coming out of the water, the canal and groves. There’s even an outside Ballroom. Then on to the Trianons (Grand et Petit) and Marie Antoinette’s Estate.
Most girls make do with a dolls house – she had a whole estate, life sized! It was about 3.30pm when we came out of the gardens and the queues were even longer than they had been in the morning, so all the horror stories we’d heard about the queues are true. So, if you’re planning a trip to Versailles – try a Wednesday and use the side gate.
Let’s Visit Eden
The Eden Project is nestled in the reclaimed china clay pit close to St Austell in Cornwall, it has two biomes, the rain forest and Mediterranean plus many other areas of interest.
Visit the website at www.edenproject.com for more information, events and visiting times
If you go down to the woods
So you are thinking, where shall we go for a few days. Well think no farther than the New Forest National Park. Walking and cycling is a great pastime in the forest with its designated tracks and paths. Several maps are available showing routes for walking and cycling and bike hire is readily available if you do not have your own.
Getting to other areas of the forest is quite easy by bus and train, but only if staying at certain campsites. During the summer months they have a forest bus which travels through the forest, but you will need to check the timetable for the routes. Several sites are available to stay run by the Caravan & Motorhome Club and Camping and Caravanning Club, some basic and others with full facilities. We always tried to stay at Black Knowl Caravan Club site because it is within walking distance of Brockenhurst through the forest, although Hollands Wood is closer, it is larger but with not many hookups, but it does give a more forest feel. Some sites are not on a bus route so it is better to check which site would suit you needs. Brockenhurst has many shops, cafes and pubs, and a visit to the Cemetry where the famous snake catcher is buried and the well kept New Zealand war memorial is a must. The church and cemetry are not far from the railway crossing.
Brockenhurst’s railway station gives you the chance to travel to other areas a bit farther away, even London.
